Fake Tamiflu from Asia seized by US customs agents
SAN FRANCISCO (AFX) - Authorities have intercepted more than 50 packages of
fake bird flu vaccine shipped to the US in recent weeks, evidently from China,
federal officials said.
Scientists are analyzing the ingredients in capsules sold as "generic
Tamiflu" to online customers, Dave Elder, director of the Food and Drug
Administration's office of enforcement, told Agence France-Presse.
"First of all, there is no such thing as generic Tamiflu," Elder said,
noting that Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche is the only legitimate maker of
the vaccine.
Preliminary testing confirmed the capsules did not contain the active
ingredient in Tamiflu, according to Elder.
Packaging bore Chinese writing, prompting US investigators to seek the help
of counterparts in Asia to track down the point of origin.
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